Gone Fishin'

By Kevin Williams

Amish men towing a boat near Indian Lake in Ohio

A video of some Amish friends launching a boat via horse-drawn buggy has gone viral and even made the pages of the Daily Mail in London! Meanwhile, I'm scratching my head as to why the video has been so popular.  I've seen that sort of thing frequently.  How else are they supposed to launch their boat?  Not like they can use a truck or car to back their boat to the water's edge.   This occurred near Pontotoc, Mississippi's Amish settlement.  It is a very conservative community and they are relatively new to northern Mississippi, so I think locals were amused seeing the buggy launching the boat.  But if you live near Indian Lake in Ohio or Pokagon State Park in Indiana, seeing a buggy pulling a boat is almost a daily occurrence.

Fishing is a popular pasttime among the Amish.  It's a way for men (and some women!) to practice a bit of sport while feeding the family.  Fishing provides an excuse to get outdoors and onto the water, both things very much in line with the Amish lifestyle.  Farther west, Amish in the Rexford, Montana community are very devoted to fishing in crisp mountain streams.

Above is a photo of some Amish men towing a boat near Indian Lake, Ohio.  A reader - I can't remember who, probably Diann or Melanie, I've had two readers from that area send me photos of the years - shared this photo with us years ago.  This photo was taken near DeGraff, Ohio which is a very conservative community. In fairness to those men, I did blur their faces since I definitely know they wouldn't want them posted.